Finland’s Valio Mulls Closure Of Production Plants In Helsinki And Turku

The move will help the Finnish dairy firm improve its production efficiency and profitability, it said in a statement.

The Pitäjänmäki juice plant in Helsinki produces juices, berry soups and glogg, while the Turku plant produces plant-based cooking and snack products.

The decision is likely to affect 92 employees, including 66 in Helsinki and 26 in Turku.

The possible closure of the production plants is scheduled to take place in the first half of 2026 at the earliest, Valio added.

Juha Penttilä, executive vice president of operations at Valio said, “The personnel at both production plants have done a good job. Change negotiations involving headcount reductions are always unfortunate, and we want to handle it in the best way possible.”

Valio employs around 4,300 people, of which 3,700 work in Finland. It is owned by approximately 3,400 Finnish dairy farms through a cooperative structure.

The firm’s Riihimäki plant employs around 430 people and comprises several factory buildings and production lines.

It produces both milk-based products – milk, cream, buttermilk and yoghurts – and plant-based snack products under the Oddlygood brand.

Valio acquired the Turku plant’s production operations last autumn from Norway’s Kavli, and the employees transferred to Valio’s payroll as part of this transaction.

ESM